Spring equinox and heatwave in Malaysia

Sunday 20 March 2016 is the spring equinox and at the same time there is a heatwave in Malaysia. From The Star,
"Be prepared for a double whammy and steaming hot afternoons for the rest of the month.
The situation will be made all the more unbearable with the equinox , when the sun shines directly over the Equator, and the heatwave caused by the El Nino phenomenon.
The heatwave was expected to continue until the end of the month.

Chuping, Perlis recorded the highest temperature in the country this month at 39°C on Monday and Friday.  The temperature in Petaling Jaya at 5pm Friday was 33°C while Alor Setar recorded 36°C; Ipoh and Seberang Perai 35°C; Kuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan, 34°C; Senai, Johor, 34°C; and Malacca, 33°C."

The March vernal equinox is when the sun appears to cross the equator from south to north. The day is roughly the same length as the night.

I escaped from the heat in KL and went to Bali for a few days. The sky was clear and the visibility was so clear. Meanwhile in Klang Valley, Malaysia, the haze was definitely returning, The Star on Monday 21 March "The Education Ministry will announce today whether schools in certain areas of the country will be closed due to the hot weather, even as the haze level continues to rise in the Klang Valley. The ministry was monitoring the hot weather situation and on Saturday, it was found that Kedah and Perlis recorded temperatures as high as 39.2°C."
"Tangau also attributed the haze in the Klang Valley to the dry weather, open burning and local bush fires."

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The heat only lessened in the last week in April when the interseason rains started. April was horribly hazy.